Cecil Morley Collection, 1920-1926
Collection context
Summary
- Extent:
- 1.67 Linear Feet 1 Archival Flat Box
- Language:
- English
Background
- Scope and content:
This collection contains two scrapbooks created by Cecil Morley while she was a student at Southern College. Her tenure here is notable in that she experienced life at three different campuses--Sutherland, Clearwater, and Lakeland.
Also included is a 1926 Interlachen yearbook, and a copy of a 1984 oral history interview of Cecil conducted by her family. In it, she provided a first-hand telling of her experience with the Sutherland fire, which is the only known eyewitness account.
- Biographical / historical:
Cecil was born on May 29th, 1902 in Wilmette, Illinois. Her parents were Harry "Hal" Raymond Morley and Florance Richards Morley. When Cecil was still a child, the family moved to Arcadia, Florida for her mother's health. Hal was a real estate salesman and abstractor. Cecil met her future husband, Alfred T. Moore, in Arcadia, where Alfred's father, Charles Moore, owned Moore's Photography. Cecil worked at Moore's Photography and is likely to have enhanced her photography skills with her future father-in-law.
Cecil entered southern college in 1920 as a freshman. She majored in sewing and cooking (known at that time as domestic science). It was at this time that Southern College (as it was known prior to 1935) was loacted in Sutherland (now Palm Harbor), Florida. She was on campus when both the Girls Dormitory and Administration Building burned to the ground in 1921. She and her classmates enjoyed picnics, beach adventures, and traveling. A Saturday tradition at the Sutherland campus was for young women to drag their steamer trunks to the veranda, perched upon them in anticipation of male callers, who were allowed to sit next to them during the hour long "trunk social." A photograph of Cecil's trunk is included in the collection.
Although Cecil's scrapbook refers to her position as Editor-in-Chief of The Southern (the student newspaper) for the school year of 1925-1926, Cecil did not complete school that year, nor did she graduate. She had come down with a case of rheumatic fever and was too ill to attend school. Upon her recovery, she married her suitor, Alfred.
Cecil and Alfred had three children: Elizabeth (Betsy) Moore Wood, Carol Jean Moore Pinkerton, and Tom Moore (married to Nancy Moore). In 1929, Cecil, Alfred, and infant Betsy moved to Montrose, Colorado, where Alfred supported the family as a linotype operator for a daily newspaper.
Cecil was an avid photographer, and she produced many albums of travels and family life.
Cecil passed on June 26, 1988 at the age of 86 in Englewood, Colorado. Alfred passed on November 17, 1997. They had been married for 63 years.
- Acquisition information:
- These materials were donated to the college by her family in 2014.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Access and use
- Restrictions:
This collection is open for research. Researchers must contact McKay Archives in advance for access to unprocessed born digital materials in this collection. Collection restrictions, copyright limitations, or technical complications may hinder the archives' ability to provide access to unprocessed born digital materials.
- Terms of access:
This collection is owned by Florida Southern College. This collection is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
- Location of this collection:
-
Florida Southern College111 Lake Hollingsworth Dr.LakelandFL33801USA
